At times the sky becomes a “River of Raptors” above the Veracruz, Mexico count site.

Last Wednesday was a banner day for hawk and vulture migration above Veracruz, Mexico – we all should have been there – with 354,806 birds counted including 195,527 Broad-winged Hawks, 63,047 Swainson’s Hawks, and 66,891 Turkey Vultures among 11 different raptor species – all in 1 day! There is no doubt the Veracruz count site is the busiest in the Americas and the world, or that it lives up to its name of “River of Raptors!” During the following 2 days, raptor migration numbers remained high with totals of 146,240 Thursday and 135,157 Friday!

The birds that pass by the Veracruz count site originated from nesting ranges in North America and funnel inland between the Gulf Coast to the east and mountain ranges to the west. To view all the daily observations at the Veracruz count site, and to check out daily raptor counts see HawkCount

Of course, there are exciting raptor count sites located across the United States and southern Canada as impressive numbers and diversity of birds of prey continue to migrate south daily throughout October and into November. Consider visiting a raptor counting site this fall, and find one near you at HawkCount which is operated by Hawk Migration Association of North America.

This year’s fall count of the introduced Eastern population of Whooping Cranes is currently estimated at 81, including 19 wild-hatched Whoopers. At the beginning of October at least 63 Whooping Cranes were still in Wisconsin, 1 (possibly 2) in Michigan, and 4 in Illinois, with other Whooping Cranes in the eastern population unconfirmed during the past month. This exciting project to reintroduce Whooping Cranes has been led by the International Crane Foundation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and a broad group of other agencies, groups, and individuals.

For more information about the introduced Eastern population of Whooping Cranes and other crane-related news from around the world, see Whooping Crane Eastern Population Update – October 2021 – International Crane Foundation (savingcranes.org)

A migration map showing the 2020 and 2021 migration routes taken by the record-setting Bar-tailed Godwit (courtesy of Adrian Riegen and Audubon).

September 28th an adult male Bar-tailed Godwit completed a record-breaking flight as it touched down in New South Wales, Australia after a continuous migration of more than 8,100 miles that began in western Alaska. The godwit literally flapped its wings for 239 continuous hours to set the world record for the longest continuous flight recorded for any land bird! And the record-setting godwit isn’t done yet – in the next few days, the godwit that is fitted with a solar-powered satellite transmitter is expected to end its migration in New Zealand. Read more

Timber harvesters and haulers have until Friday, Oct. 15, to apply for a share of $200 million in federal aid for losses experienced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apply for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. For assistance, watch this recorded webinar on how to apply. Read more

This October, support Firewood Month by choosing to buy firewood where you burn it to prevent the spread of tree pests and diseases. As natural resource managers across the state work to limit tree loss from oak wilt, hemlock woolly adelgid and other destructive invaders, you can do your part by making safe firewood choices.

Invasive species, those that are not native and cause harm to the environment, economy or human health, are often transported to new locations through human means. Most tree pests and diseases get to new destinations in contaminated plant material or infested wood products, including firewood.

According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, there are 140 pests and diseases that can be moved with firewood. Some are already present in Michigan, while others, including Asian longhorned beetle, beech leaf disease and spotted lanternfly, are infesting nearby states. Recreational lands in Michigan are showing the effects of invasive tree pests and diseases. For example, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park has lost over 1,000 trees from oak wilt, transforming once-shady campsites and healthy wildlife areas into barren, open space. Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Disease Laboratory and the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Tuesday announced they have confirmed that six free-ranging, white-tailed deer from four counties have died from epizootic hemorrhagic disease. EHD is a viral disease, sometimes fatal, found in wild ruminants such as white-tailed deer, mule deer and elk.

EHD cases were identified in Oakland County (3), Macomb County (1), St. Clair County (1) and Shiawassee County (1). Over the last 15 days, the DNR has received reports of 150 likely cases of EHD, primarily from counties where officials have confirmed the disease.

The disease is transmitted by a type of biting fly called a midge. Infection does not always result in the disease. Signs of illness within infected animals are highly variable, ranging from none at all to extensive internal bleeding and fluid accumulation. There is no evidence that humans can contract the EHD virus. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Autumn brings some of the most beautiful weather found anywhere on our planet and we’ve already experienced some of it the past few weeks.  The deciduous trees are beginning their splendid display of red and orange color attracting thousands of tourists for the annual show courtesy of Mother Nature.  However, there’s a fly in the ointment and it’s not a fly at all:  pentatomids – a.k.a stink bugs.

Stinkin’ Bug

I first discovered these irritating insects years ago in my vegetable garden.  At first, I had some misdirected affinity for them thinking they were a friendly bug that would prey on other harmful garden-variety insects.  Wrong!  They were the suckers killing my plants!  And, I do mean suckers.

Pentatomids have piercing sucking mouthparts, and most are phytophagous, including several species which are severe pests on agricultural crops.  All green plants are eaten by one or more species of phytophagous insects.

This is all too deep for me, so stink bugs it will be.  And, if you haven’t figured it out yet, stomp on one and you’ll understand the origin of the moniker; the penetrating stench is over-powering.

The stink bug is considered an invasive species, or a pest of foreign origin, having been introduced to the United States from Eastern Asia in the mid-1990s.  Since then, they have become most prevalent in the mid-Atlanta region, and have been identified in 44 states and the District of Columbia.  Lucky us!

These freeloaders are looking for nice, warm surroundings for the winter months and have an innate ability to play hide-and-seek better than your average kid. If you look hard enough, you can find them in curtains, exhaust fans, cardboard boxes and even fireplaces.

If you are bugged by these rascals, spend some time inspecting the outside of your home for easy access points. Pay close attention to areas including around siding and utility pipes, behind chimneys, and underneath the wood fascia or other openings. Seal any cracks and holes that are found using a good quality silicone or silicone-latex caulk.  Remember, however, that today’s vinyl  siding is supposed to fit loosely so that it can expand and contract with temperature changes, and is therefore, a natural safe space for them.  You can’t win this one.

Forget expensive, toxic sprays that’ll make money disappear faster than the bugs.  I prefer a mixture of soapy water in a spray bottle for hard-to-reach areas, because it’s effective, inexpensive, and can be sprayed around pets and children without harm.  Hand-held cordless vacuums provide a viable means of control, as well.

Stink bugs are also attracted to light, so minimizing extraneous lighting can help.  Being squeaky clean with food and food waste is also important.  You may also want to install screens on chimneys and attic vents.  It’s also a good idea to check any boxes or containers before bringing them into homes.

September typically signals a change in stink bug behavior from active feeding to sheltering for the winter inside man-made structures.  The heating system in your home can cause stink bugs to become tricked into activity before springtime.  This is why you may see them buzz about the rooms of your house, as they react to temperature.

The circle of life is launched in the month of May, as they seek out plants and crops for feeding and sites to lay eggs – about the time we’ve assumed we’ve beaten them into submission.  We all know the meaning of assumed, don’t we?

“The Mule Deer Foundation appreciates the continued partnership with the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund to help us improve habitat for our western deer,” said MDF President/CEO Joel Pedersen. “The grant we received last year was leveraged almost 4:1 through funding from our chapters and additional partners—this put more than $590,000 on the ground for projects in priority mule deer migration corridors and winter ranges. The increased funding for this year’s projects will make an even bigger difference and will expand to include pre- and post-fire forest restoration work in California.”

Funding provided through the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund in 2020 was used for a variety of projects across six states. Post-fire habitat restoration in eastern Washington and western Colorado allowed for reseeding and planting shrubs in burned areas, invasive weed prevention, repairing or replacing fences and water sources, and much more. These projects will continue, and additional support will be available for post-fire restoration in southern Idaho. In addition, the new funding will continue a project in northeastern Nevada, in partnership with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, to remove invasive juniper in a priority mule deer area that is home to about 10,000 deer. Fence modifications in eastern Montana and eastern Idaho will be coordinated as well as a noxious weed treatment in the Lemhi Valley in Idaho. New this year will be a significant contribution to a landscape forest resiliency project on the Plumas National Forest in California. Read more

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, along with hundreds of other declining bird species, stands to benefit from restoration of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act’s protections. Photo by Agami Photo Agency/Shutterstock

(Washington, D.C., September 29, 2021) Today, the Biden Administration announced that it plans to reverse a harmful rule change that undermined the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), as well as undertake a new initiative to reduce accidental but preventable bird deaths.

“We are encouraged that protections for migratory birds are on track to be restored, and where possible advanced, using techniques we know can reduce bird mortality,” says Mike Parr, President of American Bird Conservancy (ABC). “Our thanks to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for proposing this rule and for providing leadership to conserve millions of migratory birds each year.” Read more